Music,  Television

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush (1985)

July 6, 2014 / 16 Comments
running up that hill with road

Running Up That Hill

The first time I remember seeing and hearing the English singer-songwriter Kate Bush was on Saturday Night Live in 1978. 

She was a bit older than me but still a teenager and she sang very well and I thought she was talented in a quirky way. 

I’d never seen anything quite like it before and I didn’t know what to make of her. However, I was very impressed with her talent. After all, I still remember it all these years later. 

I’ve never seen that broadcast again.

I bought a couple of her albums but then she seemed to fade away . . .

Actually, she became quite a big star in England but rarely appeared in the United States, apparently because of a fear of flying. I must admit that I started to forget about her.

This was the song that first made her famous in England. She is playing a ghost in “Wuthering Heights.”  

Be prepared, it is rather unusual:

Now you see why I didn’t know quite what to make of her when I first saw her? She was different.

Kate Bush Is A True Original

I became aware of her again because of her 1985 song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” and the accompanying Very Strange Video (below). 

I became quite obsessed with this song. It was Kate at her eccentric best, complete with the very 1980s synthesizers.

Kate Bush explains the song: Behind The Song: Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill”

I was fascinated by her again. It is a haunting song, and the lyrics have been interpreted in many different ways. 

Apparently, she becomes deeply involved in many stages of her music: writing, performing, choreography, producing, set design, etc. 

She has really exercised great control over her career. She’s nobody’s puppet.

You can see more videos by Kate Bush on her official YouTube Channel: 

Kate Bush Music 

2022 Updates  

It seems I was way ahead of the curve!  “Running Up That Hill” has suddenly become famous in America only 37 years later! It’s the #1 streamed song on the planet!

Kate is very surprised and happy with this success!

You may also want to read my post about Swedish House Mafia’s “Save The World” and I Love The Singer Pink.

2023 Update: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!

Kate Bush has just been inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

According to the Hall website:

Her radical experimentation with lush soundscapes, literary themes, sampling, and theatricality have inspired everyone from Johnny Rotten to Björk to Big Boi.

Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!

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